That is exactly the piece of equipment we were discussing. The dog our conversation was about is 100% spot-on obedience wise with the collar on (even if the handler never touches it), but can't follow even the most basic of commands when not wearing it. The collar has become more than a crutch, it h...

Many years ago, I learned a few important lessons from a wise horse-trainer that still apply today, even though I changed the species I work with to dogs. Since the subject came up in conversation today, I figured I would share and hopefully generate a good discussion on this topic. "No piece o...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=846EQplY0Lk&feature=youtube_gdata_player So... yeah. That's basically it. Vi played with that for about another 1/2 hour with only the amount of kibble I put in during the video. The measuring cup I used is a 2/3 cup. I am still in the process of figuring out the...

I was actually coming on here to dig this exact thread up, and there it was at the top! Vi has, at some point over the last 6 years, used virtually every type of WTE and puzzle toy available (and some I made myself). Few have been durable enough to hold-up to moderate use, and even less have been ab...

If your dog is expressing the anal glands on his own naturally, don't mess with them. Once you start manually expressing the glands (on a regular basis) you will have to continue manually expressing the glands. It's one those "if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it" kind of things. A dog *...

As a member of the Veterinary community, I am so sorry that happened. I am also peeved off at that vet for making the job of the next vet/tech harder by affirming your dog's fear. I am fortunate enough to work at a clinic that has a staff of pet "savy" techs, assistants, and vets. We make ...

My house is one extreme to the other as far as barking goes. Lucy has seriously only barked twice in the 12 years I have known her, and both times it was in the middle of a scrap with opossums and it was a singular "woof". Vi is in the middle. She is an alert barker. She woo-woos at car do...

As a "show dog" person, I can say that zero tolerance to barking is not the norm. While barking in the ring is generally not tolerated, at home or out of the ring is a different story. If you have ever been to a show even as a spectator, you would know the dogs there bark... a lot. (Not yo...

Unfortunately no one thought to video it and the dog passed suddenly several years ago. There is a comercial out there somewhere with him in it doing his "dig" trick. You could tell the dog to dig anywhere (type of ground made no difference, tile, dirt, carpet) and he would do it until you...

My Vi is an oaf that is difficult to trick train. What I have found works best for her is to break the trick down into parts and teach each one independent of eachother, then chain them together. For this trick I would first teach her to lay down on her side on command. Use a word that is different ...

I just noticed this thread, and I will ask a good friend of mine if she knows anyone on that side of the state that would be appropriate and capable of helping you. She does quite a bit of behavioral work with "last chance" dogs and knows some of the best behaviorists in the state. If a 3 ...

I would still strongly recommend a urine test. Ask your vet if you can just bring one in to be ran without an appointment. Since you were there recently, they may do the test and only request to see the dog if it shows a problem. Since the "bleeding" continued so long while being treated, ...